Key for collapsible tubes



Oct. 15, 1957 E. E. NEIMY ETAL 2,809,770

KEY FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Oct. 19, 1953 FIG. 5

FIG. 5

INVENTORS MARY A. NEiMY EDWARD E. NE\MV /Maw ATTORNEY KEY FDR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Edward E. Neimy and Mary A. Neimy, Miami, Application October 19, 1953, Serial No. 386,851

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-99) This invention relates to keys for winding or coiling collapsible tubes to efifect the removal of the contents of such tubes and has for its primary object to provide such a device which is adapted to be used on tubes of various sizes which are presently being marketed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for coiling collapsible tubes which is simple in construction and economical in cost since the device is adapted to be produced from sheet metal by a simple stamping process for volume manufacture.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a key characterized as above which after having been used may be readily removed from the collapsed tube and used over again as many times as desired.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a key described as above whose handle is constructed of sutncient strength to receive the torsional force applied thereon without becoming distorted or breaking off while the key is in use With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the present specification with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing, but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a front elevational view of the device shown attached to a collapsible tube shown only in part.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the same as viewed from the handle of the key.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the key blank.

Figure 5 is an end view of the blank shown in Figure 4 with the edge portions bent upwardly as the first step of the manufacture thereof.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the key.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 refers generally to a key stamped from a portion of sheet metal and having a transversely disposed finger piece 11, a body portion 12 and a throat portion 13 connecting the body portion 12 and the finger piece 11. The body portion 12 consists of a relatively narrow but elongated base portion 14 along whose edge portions extend the side walls 15, 15. The side walls 15, 15 extend upwardly of the base portion 14 at an angle greater than 90 and are bent at their mid-portion as desired Estates Patent ice at 16, 16 with the upper end portions 17, 17 being bent in a direction towards each other to form a longitudinal slot 18.

In the manufacture of the key 10 a blank 11 is stamped from a sheet of aluminum, tinned sheet metal or the like, in the form shown by Figure 4. Then the edge portions 17, 17 of the body 12 are bent upwardly at substantially right angle. The side walls 15, 15 are then bent upwardly at an obtuse angle to the base portion 14 bringing the edge portions 17, 17 adjacent to but spaced from each other to form a slot 18. As shown best in Figures 2 and 3, the crimped end portion 20 of a collapsible tube 21 is inserted into the slot 18 of the key 10. Now the finger piece 11 is grasped and turned about its longitudinal axis causing the flexible tube 21 to become coiled upon the body 12 of the key 10 and thus effecting of a flow of the contents of the tube 10 outwardly through the opened end (not shown) of the tube 10. The crimped bottom end portion 20 of the tube 21 engages the edge portions 17, 17 of the key 10 and therefore, will not slip out during the coiling action. After the contents of the flexible tube 21 has been removed, the key 10 may be turned in the reverse direction, and the tube 21 uncoiled and removed therefrom, permitting the key 10 to be used again.

It is intended that the key 10 be fabricated of relatively thin sheet metal. The angle at which the side walls 17, 17 engage the collapsible tube 21 prevents the slot 18 from widening; therefore the crimped end of the tube 21 cannot slip out of the slot 18. After a complete turn of the key 10 is made on the collapsible tube 21, there is no longer any danger of the collapsible tube from slipping out of the slot 18 since the tube is now wound around the key 10. As more and more tubing is wound on the key 10, a greater torsional force must be applied on the finger piece 11 to effect a removal of the contents of the tube 21. The throat 13 which connects the finger piece 11 to the body portion 12 is of maximum width and therefore will be of sufficient strength to permit the operation of the key 10 under ordinary circumstances without tearing or becoming twisted so as to render the key 10 non-usable.

Having described our invention in detail, What we claim as new is:

A key for collapsible tubes stamped from a sheet of metallic material comprising a base member having elongated edge portions, said base member being substantially equal in width to the thickness of a crimped end of the collapsible tubes, a fingerpiece mounted at one end of said base member, side wall portions extending upwardly along said elongated edge portions at an obtuse angle thereto, said side wall portions being bent at substantially their mid-portion in a direction toward each other and the free edge portions thereof terminating adjacent but in spaced relation to each other whereby a longitudinally disposed slot is formed thereby adapted to receive the crimped end position of said collapsible tube while the crimped end is engaged by said base member and said side wall portions.

Kielberg Nov. 20, 1928 Rubens Apr. 20, 1937 

